Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-02-11
erect of epileptic fits, which proi6oet
partial paralysis and idiocy.


erect of epileptic fits, which proiaoesi
partial paralysis and idiocy.
Where is supperP" asked Amos.
"Over there; an if you don't go soon
they'll not be any left. They eat q
race" said the simple woman, gig
Cling.
"Who are youP" Amos asked.
"rhey calls me foolish Nancy; |
amt so foolish us they think. It's
because ] larf but larf when l can't
help it. There's nothin' here to make
any one larf, an / guess rs got to do
larfin' for all the others
She paused, because she was giggling
in most hystelical manner. After a
few moments, she said;
"Ye'd better come now an get
suthin' to eat, cos they don't wait here
on any body" and again she fell to
giggling, until her distorted face was
almost dark.
Amos looked at that low, open shed,
which answered for dining-room, and
saw those wretched creatures there
struggling, fighting and snatching at
the food more like hungry dogs than
human beings, and felt that he did not
care 10 be among them. But at this
moment Bill Jones, passing the door,
said
"Why don't you go to supperPn
Feeling sure he would displease the
cruef man to refuse, the child said;
"I'll go, sir. I'll CO.
He began to climb down from the
hard chair, and with much difficulty
found his crutches.
"Ye'll not git nothin' to eat, ef ye're
goin' to be that Slow chuckied Bill,
whose grammar was as bad as his
morals.
The woman who had called herself
simple Nancy was waiting for him. her
face distorted with a giggle.
: Come she said, .'come with me.
Ye shall be my boy. / he'd little boy
like you once
Disgusting as this poor creature was,
Amos found that she was a beam Of
sunshine in that place of horror His
infantile mind could distinguish in her
less seliishness than was in many
others. Her mind, dwarfed and clouded
as it was had yet some faint CLEANS of
humanity, and he accepted her proderea
friendship. As he hobbled along on
his crutches, at her side, he asked.
"ls sister heie?N
"Yes, yes; Tn your sister" the
woman answered, with giggle. "rm
your sister and mother both.
"But my sister Ithlen, is she here?'
The woman seemed puzzled She
reflected in her stupifed way, and then,
with giggle which seemed to decide
the matter, said:
"oh, ycs-yes, yes, l am your sister
Helen"
When the table was reached there
was nothing on it he could eat. He
had watched his fathers pigs eat swill
far more wholesome and palatable than
the mess before him. There were
u few broken loavcs of dark corn-brcad,
cooked hard, some boiled pork and
leaves of weeds which they called
"greens."
The helpless creatures grabbed with
their hands, ignoring the few rusty
knives, forks and spoons they had. A
piece Of corn-brcad which had fallen to
the ground was picked up and given to
the child, but he was really ill., and
could not eat. His face was flushed
With fever and the pain in his side and
back continued 10 increase.
my child is sick, my child is Sick"
said simple Nancy taking the boy in
her skinny arms. "I'll take him to
bed" Giggling, she bore the little suf-
ferer to her miserable, dirty cot, and
laid him upon it,
"Now you will be well soon"
"Where is sister HelenP Oh, sister,
why don't you comePn cried the sick
boy.
al am Helen--I am here said the
idiotic woman, striving to console the
little sufferer.
He fell into feverish sleep and
awoke at midnight to find all darkness
and silence, save the snoring of the |
idiot on the floor. having given up her |
bed to him. His fever was raging
high. and he burned with thirst.
"Helen, want drink Oh, sister,
sister, why don't you come"